Ryan Coogler is stepping back into franchise mode, but this time he’s tapping into a cult classic that shaped a generation of young sci-fi fans. The “Animorphs” series is officially in development at Disney+, with Coogler attached as an executive producer.
The move puts the Sinners director behind one of the most ambitious YA reboots currently in motion. According to Variety, Bayan Wolcott will write and executive-produce the series. The original books, created by Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant, ran for 54 installments under Scholastic and built a loyal fanbase with their mix of body horror, war themes, and coming-of-age tension. The official logline keeps that energy intact: “Animorphs follows a group of teenagers who uncover a hidden threat lurking beneath their everyday lives, all while juggling relationships, curfews, and the chaos of high school.”
Coogler isn’t stepping in alone. He’s joined by his longtime creative partner and wife, Zinzi Coogler, along with Sev Ohanian under their Proximity Media banner. Scholastic’s Iole Lucchese and Caitlin Friedman are also on board, while Simone Harris and Dezi Gallegos oversee development.
At its core, “Animorphs” follows teens who can morph into animals after physical contact, all while secretly fighting an alien invasion. That mix of identity, power, and paranoia feels right in Coogler’s lane, especially as he continues expanding into genre storytelling.
With Coogler already developing an “The X-Files” reboot, this latest move signals a clear pattern: familiar worlds, reimagined with sharper stakes.
